England LGBT group issue statement as Henderson chosen in squad after Saudi move
England LGBT group 3LIONSPRIDE will turn their back on Jordan Henderson if he does feature for the Three Lions against Ukraine or Scotland this month.
Henderson, 33, was named in the latest England squad for September's international matches - despite making the £13million move to Saudi Arabia in July. The midfielder made the switch to Steven Gerrard's Al-Ettifaq, leaving Liverpool after 12 successful years on Merseyside.
Gareth Southgate seemed taken aback at the level of criticism faced at Henderson in his press conference on Thursday. Henderson has gone from an LGBTQ campaigner to moving to a country where homosexuality and same-sex relationships are outlawed and can be punished with the death penalty. Since the transfer was confirmed, Henderson has made three Saudi Pro League appearances for Al-Ettifaq.
After it was confirmed that Henderson will be in the squad to face Ukraine or Scotland, LGBT group 3LIONSPRIDE issued a damning statement. "Today, the Three Lions squad for September's men's international break was announced and Jordan Henderson has continued his run of England squad call ups," a statement read.
"Normally, this announcement would bring some tangible excitement and pride for our group but nothing unusual for most observers. This squad call up is different. We have had a number of enquiries regarding our response to Henderson's call-up due to this being the first England squad since his move to Saudi Arabia.
Cas star Jacob Miller says Trinity's Lewis Murphy has "nothing to lose" in NRL
"For us, the usual excitement is replaced with apathy for a footballer who has failed us. Our desire for England to win is unwavering but our support individually for Henderson is gone.
"There will be no more cheering when his name is announced, no more banner with his face on. If he does play, we imagine that many of our group (whether LGBT+ or not) will turn their back to the pitch as he enters the field of play, much like he turned his back on advocating human rights.
"Jordan Henderson's bank balance may be burgeoning but our respect and his off field legacy is lost - and can never be won back."
Henderson left Liverpool to play in Saudi Arabia (Essa Doubisi/Getty)Meanwhile, Southgate had his say on Henderson and Saudi Arabia. When asked about whether he would copy Roberto Mancini in swapping Italy for the Middle-East, he said: "I'm not looking to leave the job I'm in. I'm very happy. I certainly wouldn’t leave managing my country during my contract.
"I find the area really complicated because we have a lot of trade with Saudi Arabia. We buy oil from Saudi Arabia, there's Saudi Arabian investment across a lot of British industries and I don't see any protests against any of that.
"So, it does feel to me as if the involvement with Newcastle, the decision for Jordan to go there, get a different level of scrutiny to everything else. I don’t really know what the morality argument is because so many of our industries are wrapped up with Saudi investment. Given the situation with Russia we are reliant on Saudi Arabia for a lot of our oil.
"They’re invested in so many British industries but I don’t hear any noises about that. It’s only the football that’s highlighted. The LGBT plus stance is a religious belief in that country."
Southgate added: "Obviously there is a lot of money within Saudi Arabia that is being paid, none of us are going to avoid that because it’s the obvious. But his prospects of playing at Liverpool were probably a big factor in that becoming more attractive than it might have been in the past."
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
